Torque converter with an improved housing construction

Abstract

A first ring member coaxially and firmly mounted on a circular open end of a first housing equipped with an impeller. A second ring member is coaxially mounted on a small diameter cylindrical section formed in a circular open end of a second housing which is firmly connected to an engine driven shaft, the circular open end of the second housing being further formed at the leading end portion thereof with a large diameter cylindrical section which is snugly disposed in the circular open end. An O-ring is sealingly disposed between the large diameter cylindrical section and the circular open end of the first housing. Fastening bolts are passed through aligned holes formed in the first and second ring members to combine the first and second housings.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A torque converter having first and second housings which are respectively formed with first and second open ends connectable with each other to form therein an enclosed chamber, said first housing being provided at the inner surface thereof with a plurality of blades forming an impeller and said second housing being firmly connected to an engine driven shaft to be rotatable therewith, said torque converter comprising: a first annular portion forming said first open end of said first housing;   a second annular portion forming said second open end of said second housing and including a first cylindrical section snugly disposed in said first annular portion, and a second cylindrical section the diameter of which is smaller than that of said first cylindrical section thereby forming a step portion between said first and second cylindrical sections;   a first ring member firmly and coaxially mounted on said first annular portion;   a second ring member coaxially but snugly mounted on said second cylindrical section and formed at the outer cylindrical surface thereof with a plurality of external teeth which are adapted to be meshingly engaged with an engine starter gear, the inner diameter of said second ring member being smaller than the outer diameter of said first cylindrical section;   a sealing member disposed between said first annular portion and said first cylindrical section; and   means for detachably connecting said second ring member to said first ring member in such a manner that said second ring member abuts upon the step portion.   
     
     
       2. A torque converter as claimed in claim 1, in which said first ring member is connected to said first annular portion via welding. 
     
     
       3. A torque converter as claimed in claim 1, in which the leading end of said first annular portion is snugly fitted in a counter bore formed in said first ring member. 
     
     
       4. A torque converter as claimed in claim 1, in which said sealing member is an O-ring received in a groove formed around said first cylindrical section. 
     
     
       5. A torque converter as claimed in claim 1, in which said means comprises a plurality of fastening screws passing through aligned holes formed in said first and second ring members and held by said first ring member. 
     
     
       6. A torque converter having first and second housings which are respectively formed with first and second open ends connectable with each other to form therein an enclosed chamber, said first housing being provided at the inner surface thereof with a plurality of blades forming an impeller and said second housing being firmly connected to an engine driven shaft to be rotatable therewith, said torque converter comprising: a first annular portion forming said first open end of said first housing;   a second annular portion forming said second open end of said second housing and including a first cylindrical section snugly disposed in said first annular portion, and a second cylindrical section the diameter of which is smaller than that of said first cylindrical section thereby leaving therebetween a step portion;   an O-ring sealingly disposed between an inside surface of said first annular portion and an outside portion of said first cylindrical section, said O-ring being received in an annular groove formed around said first cylindrical section;   a first ring member firmly and coaxially mounted on said first annular portion, said first ring member being formed with a counter bore into which a leading end of said first annular portion is snugly received and formed at its axial one end with a flat surface which is flush with said step portion;   a second ring member coaxially mounted on said second cylindrical section and formed at the outer cylindrical surface with a plurality of external teeth which are adapted to be meshingly engaged with an engine starter, the inner diameter of said second ring member being smaller than the outer diameter of said first cylindrical section, said second ring member being formed at its axial one end with a flat surface which abuts upon both said flat surface of said first ring member and said step portion; and   a plurality of fastening screw bolts which pass through aligned holes formed in said first and second ring members and held by said first ring member.